Tag Archives: beauty trends

From short to long in less than 10 minutes! 

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 I’ve been thinking about growing my hair, but it’s such a long, aggravating process. I didn’t want to make the commitment and find out long into the undertaking that it didn’t flatter my face. Besides, I’m 56 — an age when everyone tells you it’s time to go shorter, not longer.

I had an Ulta credit, so I decided to give clip-in extensions a whirl. I figured it would be an easy way to test drive long locks before making the decision to grow or not to grow. I purchased a set of 16-inch extensions in ginger blonde, which I thought was the best match for my hair color.

The first time I put them on, I was less than impressed. Sixteen inches of stick-straight extensions made me look like nothing more than a blonde Elvira. I whipped out my trusty scissors and cut them to 10 inches, then curled them on hot rollers. Voila! A transformation I can live with.

I’m still on the fence about growing my hair, but I actually don’t find it aging. Since it only takes 10 minutes to go from short to long, I think the extensions will be fun for when I want to shake things up. Next time I see my hairdresser, I’ll take my clip-ins along so he can cut and style them.

All in all, my long-hair experiment was a fun success!

Pictured: Hairdo by Hairuwear extensions, $69 at Ulta

Cry, cry, baby

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In a recent blog post, I mentioned a statistic that startled some readers: It stated that women cry 43 times per year compared to six times for men. Some female readers said they don’t cry nearly that often,  while others thought the number was far too low.

Me, I’m a cryer. I’m very comfortable with my tears. I cry when I hear the National Anthem, when I recall a poignant moment that happened years ago, when someone gives me a sincere compliment. I cry when I’m angry, when I’m sad, when I’m frustrated. My heritage is Irish and German, but I fall more on the Irish side when it comes to my emotions. After all, there’s an Irish saying about tears: “Your bladder is too close to your eyes.”

Tears are cathartic, or at least they are for me. They’re an emotional release, even though I’m sometimes left with a lingering headache after a good weeping session.

I mentioned in the earlier blog that crying has an unexpected benefit. My eyes are often brighter and bluer after the tears flow. Sometimes, though, I’m left with annoying redness in the whites of my eyes. Certain eyeshadow colors can also play up redness, tears or no.

When my eyes are bloodshot, I reach for eye drops. But not just any eye drops: I prefer the Japanese Rohto brand, which I order from Amazon. You can also find them at Walmart and CVS. I use the Ice or Cool versions, which can take some getting used to because they feel minty. That might sound strange, but it’s true. The initial feeling is odd; it’s almost like Icy Hot for your eyes. Once you are accustomed to the sensation, it’s amazingly refreshing. Not only will annoying redness disappear, but your eyes will feel clear and cool.

February beauty: Favorites and flops

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 The first week of the month and it’s already been crazy! There must be something in the air, because my world’s been full of drama, drama, drama. I hate drama. It’s exhausting, really, so let’s focus on something much more pleasant — and that’s this month’s favorite and flops. First, the good stuff:

  • Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops — Skin care should be easy and I’m enjoying these concentrated drops that can be used alone or mixed with foundation. I prefer to do the latter because it turns my foundation into an easy, all-day treatment. There are four versions: camomile for calming, neroli for hydration, lemongrass for radiance and my personal choice, jasmine for anti-aging.
  • Cover Girl TruBlend Blush — Spring is almost here and this marbled, baked formula will leave your cheeks glowing like a just-bloomed rose. Even better: The flush of long-lasting color is available at a drugstore price.
  • Coloured Raine liquid lipstick in Classy — The formula goes on smoothly, opaquely and is surprisingly nondrying, but it’s the color that’s the selling point. It’s a cool lavender with just a hint of gray. Top it with Lorac’s Alter Ego lip gloss and people will admire your pout all day. I posted a pic on Facebook and even my boss wanted to know what I was wearing.
  • Natasha Denona eye shadow palettes — Beauty bloggers are buzzing about this richly pigmented brand from Israel and rightly so. The shades are intense, blendable and oh-so-pretty. My favorite is palette No. 8, which features a blend of metallic and matte peaches, roses and browns.
  • Artis Elite Oval 8 and Oval 6 brushes — These unusual, oval-shaped brushes are super-soft and densely packed. Because of that denseness, less product seeps into the synthetic bristles. That’s a money-saver in the end because you use less foundation and other liquid products. Ever noticed how much product goes down the drain when you wash your makeup brushes?

And now, the things I wasn’t wild about:

  • Physician’s Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer — This came highly recommended but it didn’t work for me. It made me orangey like an Oompa Loompa, and I was using the lightest shade.
  • MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lip Color — I love MAC’s “regular” lipsticks, particularly Velvet Teddy and MAC Red — but the liquid versions were a big bust for me. They weren’t as long lasting as, say, the Anastasia and Kat Von D liquid lippies and the application was patchy. Also, the nude I chose, Lady Be Good, was markedly orange-tinged.

That’s it, y’all. I hope your March is going well. Remember, brighter days are ahead and the spring flowers will soon be in bloom. Stop and smell the roses — and don’t let the drama-lovers get you down!

From the foundation test lab

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 Hey, y’all. I thought I’d give you a quick first impression of two new foundations I tried this week. One was Tarte’s Empowered Hybrid Gel Foundation ($39) and the other was Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Foundation ($44).

As a bit of background, I’m always looking for the newest and best foundation — one that gives my skin that perfect coverage and texture. Since skin is ground zero for any makeup look, the right foundation is critical and I’ll go to great extremes to find it.

Things you should know: I’m 56 but don’t have serious issues with wrinkles; I’ve just a few fine lines. I have combination skin — occasionally slightly oily in the T-zone but normal everywhere else. So let’s get to it:

  • Tarte Hybrid Gel Foundation: I’m going to be honest, I didn’t like this one bit and it’s going straight back to Ulta this weekend. According to Tarte, it’s made with “skin-loving ingredients wrapped in a luxurious, creamy gel.” It may have loved my skin but my skin didn’t love it. The initial application was fine but within a couple of hours, it was breaking up and looking patchy. It didn’t provide that smooth, flawless look I prefer, even when it was freshly applied. It’s a no for me.
  • Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation: Unlike Tarte’s new entry into the foundation game, this one applied quite nicely with my Artis Elite Oval 8 brush. It gave me the good-skin look I crave. Coverage is nice, but not quite as full as, say Make Up For Ever’s Ultra HD. I had a video conference call today and received a number of compliments on my makeup, so it clearly looks good on screen. I’m going to keep this one in my foundation rotation to see whether it becomes a permanent fixture.

Note: I’m wearing Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in the photo accompanying this blog. The photo has been cropped but it has not been edited or filtered. It was taken in natural sunlight on my front porch.

The fab five: Beauty gurus for grownups

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hqdefaultYouTube and Instagram have transformed the beauty game. A large and varied lineup of amateurs and experts have amassed huge followings eager to learn about the latest in skin care and makeup. Instagram is where you’ll see snapshots of beauty gurus in all their poreless, perfected glory. YouTube is where you get the before and after images, learn about the latest products and see how they’re applied.

I confess that I spend hours watching videos and scrolling through photos because there are some incredibly talented men and women out there. These individuals can blend eyeshadow until it’s as smooth as body butter and draw winged eyeliner sharper than Angelina Jolie’s perfect cheekbones.

The truth, however, is that the vast majority of those gurus are on the younger end of the age spectrum. Some of the best are barely out of their teens. While I learn a great deal from them, many of their makeup looks and color choices are clearly aimed at a young, edgy market that excludes baby boomers and older millennials. That’s why I’d like to introduce you to five talented experts — all of whom just happen to be British — whose common-sense advice encompasses all generations. They’re the beauty equivalent of the Fab Five (or Fab Six if you want to get technical and count the Pixiwoo sisters separately).

Lisa Eldridge: Lisa is one of the most well-regarded makeup artists in the industry and her client roster includes the rich, famous and infamous. She’s created looks for everyone from Kate Winslet to Kate Moss, from Cate Blanchett to Katy Perry. Lisa has also worked for companies such as Shiseido, Chanel, Lancome and Boots No. 7, as well as designers like Chloe, Alberta Ferretti, Prada, Donna Karan and Moschino.

Lisa’s social media channels are resources for practical advice and clean, classic, wearable makeup looks. She’s an expert on the history of makeup and has created numerous historically accurate makeup videos showcasing various eras. You’ll find her YouTube channel here and her blog at lisaeldridge.com. I’ve already preordered her upcoming book, “Face Paint: The Story of Makeup,” from Amazon.

Wayne Goss: Some of the best makeup artists are men and Wayne is at the top of the class. If you want honest information delivered in a cut-to-the-chase, honest manner, he’s your guy. (It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes.) Wayne keeps things simple, whether he’s demonstrating how to create a smokey eye or create Kim Kardashian contours. He’s both charming and disarming: If he thinks a product is rubbish he makes no bones about it. Wayne has deservedly amassed nearly 2.2 million YouTube followers and launched his own line of high-end makeup brushes. You’ll find his YouTube channel here.

Caroline Hirons: Caroline is the Swami of Skin Care and her advice and recommendations have changed my skin for the better. I can’t even begin to fathom how many products she’s sampled in more than 18 years in the beauty industry. Caroline has represented a who’s who of top brands, including Sunday Riley, Hampton Sun, Kate Somerville, Zelens, Sjal and Pixi. She keeps things real and comes across as someone who’d be a blast to be around. Check out her YouTube channel and her blog. Your skin will thank you.

Sali Hughes: Sali has been the resident beauty writer for The Guardian U.K. since 2011. She’s also written about beauty, style and relationships in publications such as Elle, Red, Glamour and Cosmopolitan, winning two Jasmine Awards for beauty writing along the way. Sali’s YouTube channel features reviews, tutorials and interviews with leading beauty experts and celebrities. I particularly enjoy her “In the Bathroom” series, in which she tactfully invades — yes — the bathrooms of her interview subjects to chat and cheerfully check out what’s in their beauty cabinets. I recently read Sali’s book, “Pretty Honest: The Straight-Talking Beauty Companion” and thoroughly enjoyed it. You’ll find her YouTube channel here and her blog at salihughesbeauty.com.

maxresdefaultSam and Nic Chapman: The Chapman sisters describe themselves as “makeup artists, vloggers, bloggers, beauty boot camp instructors, moms and more.” All I know is that I love their YouTube videos, which feature in-depth tutorials — some classic, some slightly edgy, some celebrity-inspired — along with product hauls. Sam and Nic have a combined 30 years in the beauty industry, having begun their careers as makeup artists while in their teens. They’re also the brains behind the Real Techniques line of makeup brushes, including the new, luxe Bold Metals collection. Collectively known as Pixiwoo, you’ll find their YouTube channel here. Their joint blog is at realtechniques.com.

Photos: Sali Hughes and Caroline Hirons share a laugh; Sam and Nic Chapman’s YouTube filming setup.

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Super six: July beauty and skin care favorites

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unnamedI try a lot of beauty and skincare products. Some are swings and misses, while others are home runs. The home runs are the products I like enough to repurchase — and, trust me, that’s a relatively limited number. If I had to put it into perspective, things would shake out this way:

  •  40 percent of the products I sample I would never purchase again. It’s not that most of them are patently awful; it’s that the bulk of them are nothing special and, thus, don’t warrant another penny from my pocketbook.
  •  40 percent of products fall into the solid performer category. They work well, but not well enough to convince me there’s nothing better out there. I’ll repurchase if the mood strikes me, or if I try something else that doesn’t work as well.
  • 20 percent of products are what I’d consider home runs. They either perform so well or are so unique that nothing (at least for the time being) can compare.That said, let’s talk about this month’s star products:
  • Lotion P50W 1970 from Biologique Rechercher: Wow, that’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Let’s get to it: This product is a game changer. Although it’s billed as a lotion, it’s actually an exfoliating acid toner. There are several versions, but the P50W 1970 is for drier and more mature skin. It’s applied with a cotton pad after cleansing and before serum and moisturizer. According to Biologique Rechercher, Lotion P50 “gently exfoliates the skin, regulates excessive sebum secretion, moisturizes and helps maintain the epidermis’ acid pH.” Here’s what I say: It makes my skin look darn good! This product is relatively hard to find. I ordered mine from Shop Rescue Spa.
  • Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Hot Orange: This shade all but screams summer. It’s both matte and creamy (a rare combination) and the chubby stick delivery system means there’s no need for a separate lip liner. Despite its name, I wouldn’t say it’s an all-out orange; it’s more like a face-brightening coral-red. Pop it in your bag and go. But buy it sooner than later — it’s part of the summer Hot Collection, which I don’t believe is permanent. I got mine at Sephora, but you should be able to find it wherever Bobbie Brown is sold.
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Lipstick in Craft: This deep berry liquid lipstick is one of the most in-demand shades from the crazy-popular line of stay-put liquid lipsticks from Anastasia Beverly Hills. It’s very long-wearing, which is perfect for someone like me who doesn’t like to pause to reapply lipstick throughout the day. It’s a bit drying, but ABH is altogether one the most comfortable liquid lipstick formulas out there. Craft is currently sold out on the ABH website, and the only other place to purchase it is at Macy’s.
  • Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso: Beauty fanatics on YouTube and Instagram have been raving about this shade of blush for months now, so I finally picked it up at my local Walgreens. The makeup lovers weren’t wrong. It’s a highly pigmented, luminous peach that’s just perfect for summer and beyond. Luminoso has a hint of shimmer, but it doesn’t spotlight pores.
  • Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Cover Foundation Concentrate: I’m always looking for my holy grail foundation — trust me, I have a drawerful of them that promised nirvana but didn’t deliver. I’ve found the right one (or at least the right one for now) with this full-coverage, not-quite-matte but not-quite-luminous foundation. It’s one of the new concentrated foundations that require just a few drops for complete, my-skin-but-better coverage. Foundation is not one size fits all (skin can be oily, dry, dehydrated or combination), so keep your receipt if you try it and don’t like it. Better yet, ask for a sample at Sephora.
  • Indeed Labs’ Hydraluron Moisture Serum: Will I repurchase? I already have! This post-toning, pre-moisturing serum is a little miracle worker. One of the primary ingredients is hyaluronic acid, or sodium hyaluronate, which holds 1,000 times its weight in water. It makes my skin feel soft, moisturized and supple, but not the dreaded sticky. I love this stuff! You can purchase it at Ulta.

That wraps up my July favorites. We’re into August, which I recently heard described as the Sunday of the summer. There should be lots of new things to sample, because the big brands are introducing fall makeup and skin care products at a furious pace.

Better off red: Why you can (and should) wear bright lipstick

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redlipstickIf you follow beauty trends, you know that there are a lot of unique lipstick shades out there. Blues, greens, sepias, grays — they’re all available for the adventurous to try, and the advent of stay-put liquid lipstick makes them more wearable than ever.

Wearable or not, the truth is that those off-the-beaten-track colors are for the brave, the young and the Instagram beauty gurus. The average woman, and particularly the working woman, won’t be sporting Anastasia Beverly Hills’ “Paint,” a new cobalt shade, this fall.

‘I can’t wear red’

But enough about the out-there colors. One of the things I hear most often from friends and coworkers is, “I can’t wear red lipstick.” I can understand their aversion, because not so long ago I thought the same thing.

Red lipstick has been around for thousands of years — Mesopotamian women in 3,000 BC wore a concoction of crushed gemstones and Cleopatra created a shade of red made of crushed ants and carmine mixed with beeswax. With that type of history, why are so many women today afraid of red?

As a child of the (ahem) 70s, my theory is that red was our mothers’ lipstick color. In the 40s, 50s and even 60s, reds and orange-reds were the rage. Think Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner. Their crimson lips conveyed glamor, sophistication and sex appeal. Fast forward to the 70s, and the makeup game had changed dramatically. False lashes, dramatic eyeliner and bold lip colors were out, replaced by simple mascara, more natural eyeshadow, and nude or beige lipstick — or none at all.

Return to glam

In recent years, the pendulum has swung back. Today’s young women, perhaps in defiance of their own mothers’ barelymarilyn-marilyn-monroe-979536_1025_768 there cosmetics style, are using products that echo the age of Hollywood glamor. They’re embracing vibrant lips in shades of red, fuschia and orange and pairing them with false eyelashes and winged liner that would make Sophia Loren feel right at home.

As for me? I’ve joined the peacock parade. As recently as a few years ago, I avoided bright lipsticks as a matter of habit, instead selecting the nudes, peaches, pinks and corals I’d always favored. Then I discovered YouTube. After watching dozens of gorgeous young women create makeup looks featuring complexion-brightening, in-your-face lipstick shades, I purchased a vibrant rose, then an intense coral, then a Barbie pink. But those were just gateway drugs to the real deal: an intense blue-red. I bought it. I wore it. I loved it.

Tips and tricks

If you’re on the fence (or hiding behind the bushes) when it comes to vibrant lip colors, here are a few reasons to give them a try:

  • Have you seen the commercials featuring the guy who won’t sample almond milk because he doesn’t know what it tastes like? A lot of women are like that about red lipstick.They’ve never worn it, but they’re certain it won’t work for them. Ask yourself whether you’d accept that sort of reasoning from a child who doesn’t want to try a new food or learn a new skill. Buy it. Try it. Wear it around the house until you’re ready to make your public debut.
  • Are you worried red won’t complement your skin tone? Good news: There are reds for everyone, from blue-reds to orange-reds to brown-reds. If you’re not sure which undertone is right for you, visit Sephora or Ulta or MAC or any makeup counter and ask the experts to help you choose a shade. If that makes you uncomfortable, buy a few inexpensive tubes at your local drug store and sample them to see which looks best. Take selfies. Sometimes photos can help you decide.
  • Are you too old to wear red? Absolutely not — as long as your lips haven’t lost considerable volume with age. It’s true that dark colors can sometimes make lips look smaller, but you can work around that with the judicious use of lip liner. Use it to line the very outer edge of your lip (or even slightly — but only slightly — outside of your natural lip line). It will give you volume. Or the illusion of volume, which in the makeup game is same thing.
  • Are you reticent about going from your usual nudes, pale corals and pinks to red in one swipe? Gradually go deeper, starting with more intense versions of your current lipsticks and working  your way up to red.
  • Do you worry about lipstick bleeding or feathering into fine lines? Pick up a lip primer and a reverse lip liner. The primer will help your lipstick stay in place and reverse lip liner — which is nude or clear and is applied just like tinted liner — will create an invisible ring around your lips to ensure color doesn’t travel.
  • Speaking of traveling, do you shy away from reds because they fade, leaving your lips patchy and blotchy? The solution is liquid lipstick. Liquid lipstick comes in the same type of tube that houses lip gloss, but it colors your lips with long-wearing, fade-resistent, full-coverage color. Seriously, it stays in place for hours!

My final tip for those tempted by red is this: If you’re going to wear it, you have to own it. Red is not for the shy; it’s a power color that attracts attention. Once you break through the barriers that have you reaching for your usual nudes, you’ll find that intense reds (and other bright, can’t-miss-them shades) brighten your skin and make you look more alive.

The bottom line: You CAN wear red.